BJP calls Rahul’s charges ‘calculated deceit’, EC seeks signed declaration

NEW DELHI, Aug 7: After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday made explosive claims of a “huge criminal fraud” in polls through “collusion” between the BJP and the Election Commission, the Chief Electoral Officers of Karnataka and Maharashtra asked the former Congress chief to share names of electors he claimed were “wrong” in the voters’ list along with a signed declaration for poll authorities to initiate “necessary proceedings” in the matter.
The BJP, on the other hand, hit out at Gandhi and termed his allegation a “calculated deceit” and accused the Congress of “systematically” attacking the constitutional institutions under a larger conspiracy against India’s democracy and Constitution.
EC sources said Gandhi should either sign a declaration under the Conduct of Election Rules and submit the list of people wrongfully included in voters’ list or he should “stop misleading” the people of India and “stop making baseless allegations” against the poll authority.
The sources said the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka is expecting a signed declaration from Gandhi by this evening.
In a letter to Gandhi, the state poll officer said, “You are kindly requested to sign and return the enclosed declaration/oath under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, along with the name(s) of such elector(s) so that necessary proceedings can be initiated.” Gandhi hit back at the EC for demanding his signed declaration on his claims, saying he made the remarks publicly and they can “take it as an oath”.
He claimed that the EC is “very scared” to attack him and did not act against him, as it knows that he is speaking the truth.
Slamming Gandhi, the BJP accused him of insulting the “discerning decision” of the people of the country by calling its election victory a “fraud”. It said the voters will continue to reject the Congress for such “irresponsible and shameless” character and conduct. (PTI)